Williams fuels rumors by refusing to confirm its drivers

Si Williams thought to quell the rumors surrounding its pair of drivers in 2021 through the voice of its principal team executive Simon Roberts, it failed. 

By refusing not only to confirm the maintenance of Nicholas latifi and George Russell beyond the current season, but also to rule out the candidacy of Sergio Pérez, Roberts maintains a doubt that we imagine is uncomfortable for the 2020 holders. Starting with Russell, who seems the most threatened of the duo in place. 

The young Briton, protected by Mercedes, assured Thursday in Portimão that he was not worried about his future. Russell, like Latifi, announced at the Hungarian GP that he was returning to Williams in 2021. Since then, the historic team has been bought by the American company Dorilton Capital and Pérez was ousted from Racing Point in favor of Sebastian Vettel. 

An experienced driver and supported by strong partners, the Mexican has a great calling card, while the talented Russell is, in theory, called to join Mercedes in the near future. At the dawn of a major technical revolution, aren't Williams' new bosses wondering if it wouldn't be better to hire the services of a long-term veteran rather than train any hope of seeing him compete?

Present at an FIA press conference this Friday on the sidelines of the Portuguese GP, Roberts was questioned several times about the identity of his drivers in 2021. The Williams executive team principal, who replaced Claire Williams between Monza and Mugello, s He is shown to be particularly embarrassed when responding.

« Nothing has changed, he started by saying. There are a lot of rumors at the moment because there are many quality drivers on the market. Dorilton bought the team and nothing changed. I can't tell you more ». 

Asked if Russell and Latifi's place in the team in 2021 was assured, Roberts tried to brush off the question. “ I won't say anything about any of our pilots, he retorted. Both do a great job. There is so much speculation. I don't want to fuel rumors. Someone could interpret the slightest nuance in my words. We are happy, let's see how the rest of the transfer window evolves ». 

Asked one last time to find out if the best way to silence the rumor was not to rule out the Pérez trail, Roberts replied: “ Probably, but we don't want to say anything on the subject, one way or another. We are focused on our race weekend ". He finally clarified that the final decision rests with the new management committee of Williams, composed of Matthew Savage and Darren Fultz, president and CEO of Dorilton, and James Matthews, former Formula driver Renault Eurocup became a successful financial investor.

In light of these evasive statements, to say the least, Russell would be well advised to make a friendly phone call to Toto wolff...